Kussmauls in Asia

This week I gave two presentations at the College of Engineering, Trivandrum (CET). On Sept 22 I gave a talk on Free and Open Source Software to students in Computer Science, and on Sept 24 I gave the inaugural address (also on FOSS) at the National Level Workshop on Scilab.

CET is also in Karyavattom, not too far from the University of Kerala. My first visit was completely accidental. Several weeks ago I decided to go to campus on my own. I got in an auto-rickshaw, and told the driver "University of Kerala, Karyavattom", but he took me to the campus on MG road, not the one in Karyavattom. I repeated that I wanted to go to the campus in Karyavattom; the driver consulted with some other auto-rickshaw drivers, told me it would cost Rs 200, and off we went. After a long ride, generally in the right direction as far as I could tell, he stopped in front a big sign that said "College of Engineering, Trivandrum". It didn't look like the main gate of the UK, Karyavattom campus, but I knew that the UK has other affiliated colleges, so I got out, paid the driver, and started walking around campus, hoping to find my way to familiar territory. The CET campus is on a hill, and quite nice. I followed signs to the Computer Science Department, but when I got there it was definitely not the same building I'd visited the week before. I went in anyway, asked for help, and was directed to the office of Dr. Rajasree, the department head. She was very nice, and explained that the CET is a separate institution, and wrote out the University of Kerala, Karyavattom on paper in Malayalam, so I could show it to an auto-rickshaw driver. After a short conversation, I headed back to the CET entrance, found another auto-rickshaw, and eventually made it to campus.

Not long after this initial, accidental contact, I was asked to return and give presentations. For the second event, I was the inaugural speaker, so in addition to my presentation I was given gifts, asked to light a cerimonial lamp, and make a few informal remarks. Here are a few photos.